He knows what to expect on the gridiron, but Carolina Panther’s center Jeff Byers didn’t know what to expect when it came to Marines and martial arts.

The Marines of Ground Supply School aboard Camp Johnson got a chance to grapple with Byers during a martial arts session Wednesday.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Byers, who is an ambassador for the USO of North Carolina. “There’s nothing like wrestling and throwing guys around into the dirt.”

Cpl. Razeem Saheed, 22, of San Jose, Calif., taught the class and demonstrated moves like the hip-throw to about 25 Marines shortly after combat conditioning exercises came to an end. When it came time to perform the moves, Byers wasn’t short on Marines who volunteered to get thrown around.

“This is wonderful. I’m blown away by everything,” Byers said after the martial arts training. “To see what they do and the training they undergo is humbling. It makes me proud to be an American.”

The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, at just over a decade old, is designed to hone hand-to-hand combat skills through a combination of several martial arts.

“It’s definitely made me more disciplined,” Saheed said. “You take things in stride a lot more. You learn to figure things out and understand the method behind everything.”

Byers said when he was asked to participate he couldn’t turn down the offer.

“It feels very good to give back,” Byers said. “It puts my life into perspective. The troops allow me to do what I do.”

Gunnery Sgt Victor Rosa, of Bronx, N.Y., walked away with a scratch on his face after grappling the 310-pound NFL player.

“He’s strong,” said Rosa after his match with Byers. “He’s a really big boy but I’m pretty sure if I kept him in there for a little bit longer I could have had him.”

That mentality, according to Saheed, comes from the Corps ethos as well as its martial arts training.

“Being a Marine is mentally and physically demanding,” Saheed said. “Martial arts helps Marines get in that combat mindset. We are fighters.”

Byers also visited schools aboard Camp Johnson, rode in simulators, did physical training and got to supervise a field medical exercise with a simulated Marine casualty, all on Wednesday.

“He has volunteered to be the USO of North Carolina ambassador for the year,” said Deb Fisher, the director of the USO of North Carolina in Jacksonville. “We are trying to take him on bases and let him learn more about the military because he has no military background. It was a pretty cool experience watching him interact with the Marines and sailors.”

Byers will also be attending the deployment of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Thursday, March 7.

“It’s important for the troops,” Fisher said. “That’s the most important thing. For a celebrity to take time out and go say thank you for what they are doing … it helps build morale and lets the troops know they are being thought of.”

Byers had one message to everyone who has ever or will ever wear a military uniform after participating in the matches.

“Thank you,” Byers said. “Keep fighting the good fight. We as Americans believe in you.”